Facts:

The case involves the accused, Jose Demetrio, Mauricio Arroyo, and Ernesto Poblete, who were charged with robbery with rape. On August 28, 1946, at around 2:00 am, six individuals armed with firearms and balisongs entered the house of Benjamin Paderon in Sampaloc, Manila. They ordered the old man, Faustino Galang, to wake up the residents of the house. The perpetrators, except for Ernesto Poblete, wore masks. Ernesto Poblete held everyone at gunpoint in one room while the others searched for valuables. During this time, Poblete forcibly had sexual intercourse with Fortunata Sadian. Jose Demetrio also entered the room and raped Fortunata. The perpetrators then left, warning the residents that they would throw a hand grenade if anyone screamed. After the incident, Benjamin Paderon and his wife discovered missing items worth P1,734. The following day, Benjamin Paderon reported the incident to the police, and Fortunata Sadian underwent a medical examination, which confirmed the sexual assault.

Issue:

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Ruling:

The court found Mauricio Arroyo and Ernesto Poblete guilty of robbery with rape and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) with the corresponding penalties. They were also ordered to pay the owners...(Unlock)

Ratio:

The court rejected the defense's argument that the testimonies of the witnesses were unreliable due to discrepancies in the duration of the rape. The court explained that it is natural for different individuals to have different perceptions of time, especially in a traumatic situation like a sexual assault. The court also noted that the defense did not consider the emotional distress and suffering experienced by F...continue reading